Director Briefing - March 11, 2024

New Staff Accounts

Starting this week, we will email staff with newly created Evergreen accounts with more information about how to set up their accounts, password requirements, where to find help, and how to ask for technical support.

SMS Notifications

Over the past few months, other Evergreen consortia have reported problems with the delivery of SMS notifications, including messages being delivered with a long delay or not at all. We send text messages mainly for hold notifications and have not encountered any problems with notification delivery. However, please be on the alert for any potential problems. If you start receiving reports from patrons that they were not notified of an available hold or notice a significant increase in holds not picked up, please let us know by emailing evergreen@owwl.org.

OWWL Library System AAC Partnership Program

We have another exciting opportunity for libraries to continue to expand access to library services to all community members this spring/summer!

Through the OWWL Library System AAC Partnership Program, the System's Coordinated Outreach Services will partner with twenty member libraries to provide Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) tools. AAC tools provide a means to communicate besides talking (verbal speech) with library patrons who are unable to speak or are difficult to understand.

Each partner library will receive a symbol-based A-Frame Communication Board from Talk to me Technologies and appropriate training resources.

This program is funded through an American Library Association (ALA) Libraries Transforming Communities (LTC): Accessible Small and Rural Communities grant and Coordinated Outreach State Aid.

For more information regarding program goals, timeline, and partner selection, visit: docs.owwl.org/Members/AACPartnershipProgram. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2024. Please reach out to Suzanne with any questions.

2024 One Book, OWWL Kids

The 2024 One Book, OWWL Kids selection is Finding Kindness by Deborah Underwood and Irene Chan.

Program kits went out in Delivery last week. Please return your poster tubes to HQ; we will need them for Summer Reading posters. Do not remove your library's name or any other labels from the tube.

Fill out this form when your event is planned so it can be added to the System's webpage. Please plan events between March 1 and April 30 (can be in person, online, or take and make). The press release has gone out and has been published by some local media so you will want to get your event listed soon while there is extra traffic to the webpage.

Click here for promotional tools and the 2024 One Book, OWWL Kids logo for you to use when promoting your program.

41 libraries participated in 2023, and it would be fantastic if all 42 libraries shared One Book, OWWL Kids with their communities this year.

Aspen Administration Training

Please join us on Wednesday, March 13 at 2pm to learn all about administering your library's Aspen individual entry point, including creating browse categories, effectively using placards, and more!

Please register to attend by 10am on Wednesday, March 13.

OWWLUG Meeting

The next OWWLUG meeting is on Friday, March 22 at 10am. Please register if you plan to attend. The Zoom link will be sent to the system list the week of the meeting.

Join us to discuss receipt hacking and more. The agenda is available on OWWL Docs. Please email any agenda suggestions to evergreen@owwl.org.

Can't make it? Recording links are included in the following week's OWWL Post.

New Free Book Résumé Resource from the American Library Association

Unite Against Book Bans, in collaboration with the publishing community, just unveiled a free collection of book résumés to support librarians, educators, parents, students, and other community advocates in their efforts to keep frequently challenged books on shelves.

Unite's book résumés are easy-to-print documents designed to support readers’ access to books that are targeted by censors. Each one summarizes the book’s significance and educational value, including a synopsis, reviews from professional journals, awards, accolades, and more. Where possible, the book résumés also include information about how a title has been successfully retained in school districts and libraries after a demand to censor the book. Read more.

Our System also has a local Book Challenge Review Committee comprising Directors, System Staff, and Trustees. If your library has a situation involving a book challenge, please let me know so we can provide local support.

American Libraries Articles

If you do not subscribe to American Libraries, here are a few articles from the most recent issue that libraries might find interesting.

• Beyond ADA Compliance
• Working Hand in Hand: How to Conduct Community-Led Planning
• Reading Between the Bots: Where librarianship is headed in the age of AI

Trustee Workshop Reminder: What's New in the Trustee Handbook

Tuesday, March 19, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Join co-author of the Handbook For Library Trustees of New York State Rebekkah Smith Aldrich and friends for this fun and informative series! At each session, trustees will take a deeper dive on a topic relevant to their role and responsibilities as a library trustee.

Click here to register .

HBR: Tip of the Day

Processing an Organizational Decision You Disagree With

You won’t agree with every organizational decision senior leadership makes. But you can make peace with a strategic direction you disagree with. Start by asking yourself a few questions.

What specific situation do I disagree with? Define exactly where the misalignment is happening—and why.

How will setting aside my disagreement benefit me? This encourages you to think about the silver lining, and any upsides of going along with an unpopular plan. For example, you might think “I get to keep the job I love, despite the organizational shakeup.”

How will setting aside my disagreement benefit my team? Once you identify your silver lining, it can be easier to see how others may be positively impacted.

What information might the decision-maker(s) have that I don’t? Extend some empathy and grace to your leaders. Perhaps there are factors at play that you’re not privy to. Considering these factors may quell your frustration.

By accepting this decision, what specific actions am I committing to take? You’re now ready to chart a new course of action. By addressing your emotions first, redirecting them to a place of positivity, and thinking beyond your own perspective, you can act with intention.

This tip is adapted from “How to Make Peace with a Company Decision You Don’t Like,” by Cheryl Strauss Einhorn

System Workshops, Meetings, and Events

Upcoming System-sponsored workshops, meetings, and info sessions:

• All About OWWL Docs Tuesday, March 12 @ 2pm (online)
• OWWL Library System Board Meeting Wednesday, March 13 @ 5pm (hybrid)
• All About OWWL Docs Thursday, March 14 @ 10am (online)
• 2024 Summer Reading Workshop Friday, March 15 @ 9am (in-person)
• Hands Up! American Sign Language for Library Staff six-week series starting Tuesday, March 19 @ 2pm (online) ONLY 3 SEATS LEFT!
• Women's Leadership Book Discussion Tuesday, March 19 @ 3pm (in-person)
• OWWLUG Friday, March 22 @ 10am (online)
• OWWL Library System Board Meeting Wednesday, April 10 @ 5pm (hybrid)
• Trustee Workshop: 2024 FAQs with Ron Part I Thursday, April 11 @ 5pm (online)
• Adult Services Roundtable: Summer Reading Share Friday, April 12 @ 10am (online)
• EAC Tuesday, April 16 @ 1pm (online)
• YSAC Tuesday, April 16 @ 1pm (online)
• Going the Extra Mile: Making Your Library ADA-Friendly Instead of ADA-Compliant Thursday, May 2 @ 10am (online)